By Derek McNaughton, Postmedia News

Originally published: May 19, 2011

SMALL

MEDIUM

LARGE

Often, the question among buyers of luxury compact utility vehicles comes down to this: Which is better – Audi’s Q5 or BMW’s X3? The question, however, is like asking if brunettes are more fun than blondes.

Having now cavorted with both German models, I can say with complete honesty that neither is clearly superior to the other. Truly – and I know this sounds pathetic – but I’m at a loss to choose one over the other, which probably speaks to the fiercely competitive nature of this segment and the bounty of equipment packed into these vehicles, neither of which is willing to take a back seat to the other.

What is undeniably remarkable, though, is how well each vehicle is able to maintain the hallmark driving dynamics of the brand – the X3 driving deliciously quick and smooth like so many BMWs, the Q5 running about as sporty and as firmly as so many A4s.

It is certainly not on a spec sheet or option chart that one will determine which of these CUVs is superior; rather, it is in the driving of these two machines that will reveal which speaks to the driver with more convincing heart and soul.

As it was, the X3 xDrive35i I just drove had plenty of both. While the X3 may not have as pretty a face as the Q5, the X3’s newly designed exterior is somewhat fresher, and BMW’s LED headlamp light rings are unquestionably hot.

The new X3’s hood is notably sculpted and the rear is particularly attractive, looking even more distinguished than the rump on the fatter X5. A bigger grille, higher beltline and increased character lines throughout add some needed grace to the X3’s now larger proportions overall, as though it has morphed from lanky teenager to office babe, as well as providing additional space inside, most notably in the rear-seat and cargo area that will hold 27.6 cubic feet with the seats up and 63.3 cu. ft. with them folded flat.

Available power has increased, too. While the base xDrive28i will provide up to 240 horsepower from a 3.0-litre in-line six, the xDrive35i uses a single, twin-scroll turbocharger to turn the straight six into a captivating concertina of 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque, eloquently delivered in crisp, linear fashion through a tight-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission.

the throttle and, because most of the torque is ready to go as early as 1,300 rpm, the xDrive35i launches like a Lab after a squirrel – blasting off the line and able to hit 100 kilometres an hour in about 5.7 seconds. It’s aggressively quick through the first six gears, with changes that fold neatly into each other. The engine sounds good between shifts, too – much better than the raspy exhaust sound at idle.

Gears seven and eight lend a hand to fuel economy, though the best consumption I could achieve on Highway 401 at 110 to 120 km/h was 8.9 litres per 100 km. The Transport Canada highway rating is 7.7 L/100 km. But here’s something odd: The city rating for the xDrive35i is 11.1 L/100 km, yet I consistently hovered below that, often in the low 10s on my city commute.

Either way, for a 1,910-kilogram all-wheel-drive utility vehicle with performance and handling not far off that of a 3-Series sedan, that’s inspiring. Part of the sporty feel comes from the xDrive system that couriers 60% of the power to the rear wheels under most conditions, though it will adjust to changing road conditions automatically.

Over rough roads, the X3 feels much more comfortable than Cadillac’s SRX, and the X3’s limited body roll will give the Lexus RX 350 something to think about. Besides all that, the X3 steers like a BMW, with solid feel and feedback through a perfectly shaped (and heated) leather steering wheel, though I did find the X3 somewhat darty on the highway – mostly, I suspect, due to the 18-inch Dunlop winter tires my press vehicle was still wearing.

BMW’s updated iDrive system is vastly more simple and pleasant to use, with precise graphics and easy, colour-coded navigation for its many layers of functions. I liked it. And, of course, there is voice command.

The interior remains BMW restrained, though (the more charitable might say it’s uncluttered), with the main gauge cluster looking too flat for my tastes. Like many of the interior surfaces, the automatic shifter feels wonderful in the hand, but like all BMW automatics, the electronic shifter needs an audible tone or some kind of alert other than a “P” signal to confirm that the vehicle is truly and safely in Park.

The new X3 is certainly not lacking in character, though. The more I drove it, the more I enjoyed the way it responded. It’s confident without being overbearing, smart without being unnecessarily complicated – always attributes of a good partner, regardless of hair colour.